Introduction

Honduras’ president-elect Xiomara Castro, of the left-wing opposition Partido Libertad y Refundación (Libre), has promised sweeping reforms to demilitarise citizen security and redouble efforts in the fight against corruption after more than a decade of Partido Nacional (PN) rule.... Read More

Central America

HONDURAS: Major security policy changes expected under Castro

Honduras’ president-elect Xiomara Castro, of the left-wing opposition Partido Libertad y Refundación (Libre), has promised sweeping reforms to demilitarise citizen security and redouble efforts in the fight against corruption after more than a decade of Partido Nacional (PN) rule.... Read More

PANAMA: Clan del Golfo raids reveal increasing security concerns

At the beginning of December Panamanian authorities arrested 57 people and seized US$10m in cash – the largest cash amount ever impounded in the country.... Read More

COSTA RICA: Corruption concerns prevail ahead of February elections

A survey released late last year by the centre for research and policy studies (CIEP) of the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) shows that corruption has become the chief voter concern ahead of the 6 February 2022 general elections.... Read More

COSTA RICA/PANAMA: First moves in extending marine biosphere reserves

Late last year Costa Rica and Panama joined Colombia and Ecuador in signing an agreement to discuss extending the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR) to make an interconnected protected area.... Read More

NICARAGUA/REGION: Nicaragua joins growing list of nations ditching Taiwan for China

Nicaragua has become the latest Central American nation to end relations with Taiwan in favour of recognising China, and, if previous moves by neighbouring countries are anything to go by, it can expect a wave of investment from Beijing in return.... Read More

REGION: Coffee industry issues fuelling migration

Despite surging coffee prices on international markets, farmers in the region are increasingly migrating northwards due to falling profits and longstanding structural issues in the sector.... Read More

Caribbean

BARBADOS: Mottley calls early election

On 27 December, Prime Minister Mia Mottley surprised the nation by calling an election for 19 January, 18 months ahead of schedule.... Read More

SURINAME: Time of the essence as Suriname gains support from IMF and IDB

On 16 December 2021, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a new Country Strategy for Suriname covering the period 2021-2025.... Read More

Caribbean & Central America - January 2022